May 17

E press toward the mark. — PHIL. iii. 14.

No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. — LUKE ix. 62.

A SERVANT has undertaken to guide the plough. His feet are in the furrow, his grasp is upon the handle; but his face is turned backward. He will make a bad job of ploughing. The furrow will be spoiled. That servant is not "well placed" with regard to the work before him.

Christians, above all other people in the world, ought to be decided, whole-hearted, enthusiastic. There is no service on earth where enthusiastic devotedness is so reasonable as in the service of Christ.

Men are not usually indifferent where their affections are enlisted, or where they believe that any great interest is at stake. If I hear of one who loved me in my ruin, — so loved me that he left his throne and came to my level, not only to teach me but to die for me, — and still I feel no awakening of affection for him, and am not aroused to any warmth or earnestness in my service to him, it must be that I do not believe the story that tells of his sacrifice of himself for me. I do not give him my heart because I do not give him my faith, and therefore I am not fit for the kingdom of God.

D. C. Mungini

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a present far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine.

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

WATTS.